Friends of CSIRO a voice for scientists

Groundswell support for the CSIRO will be used to put pressure on political leaders to oppose funding and job cuts in the countdown to the federal election.

With branches already established in Victoria and the ACT, backed by hundreds of people, retired scientist Ross Gwyther on Tuesday sought Friends of CSIRO recruits in Hobart which is one of the national science agency's bases where hundreds of workers are in the firing line following financial cuts by Canberra.

"Many people see the CSIRO as one of our important public institutions in Australia and people have not had a voice in trying to reverse some of the changes," Dr Gwyther said.